Techniques for fabricating a solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) including sintering an electrolyte, printing a fuel-side electrode disposed on a fuel side of the electrolyte, printing an air-side electrode disposed on an air side of the electrolyte, first sintering a combination of the electrolyte, fuel-side electrode, and air-side electrode, printing a barrier layer an air side of the electrolyte, printing a functional layer on the barrier layer, printing a collector layer on the functional layer, and second sintering a combination of the electrolyte, fuel-side electrode, air-side electrode, barrier layer, functional layer, and collector layer.

A method and apparatus for detecting oxidation in at least one planar fuel cell stack that includes a multitude of cells is described. The height of the stack is measured to determine if there has been an increase from a previously-measured height. Such an increase correlates with the oxidation of at least some of the planar cells. In some cases, the fuel flow rate or airflow rate to each fuel cell stack can be adjusted, based in part on the oxidation detection technique. A power delivery system with at least two fuel cell stacks is also described, and it includes a stack height-measurement system, a health monitor for the fuel cell stacks, and a load balancer or airflow regulator.

A method and apparatus for detecting oxidation in at least one planar fuel cell stack that includes a multitude of cells is described. The height of the stack is measured to determine if there has been an increase from a previously-measured height. Such an increase correlates with the oxidation of at least some of the planar cells. In some cases, the fuel flow rate or airflow rate to each fuel cell stack can be adjusted, based in part on the oxidation detection technique. A power delivery system with at least two fuel cell stacks is also described, and it includes a stack height-measurement system, a health monitor for the fuel cell stacks, and a load balancer or airflow regulator.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating a performance of a fuel cell stack, and more particularly, to an apparatus for evaluating a performance of a fuel cell stack, in which a guide unit and an arm are provided on an anode end plate and a cathode end plate, respectively, to minimize an inclination of the fuel cell stack caused by a shrinkage of a sealant.

A metal-supported, planar cell arrangement (200) comprising at least one pair of cells (110a, 110b), each cell (110a, 110b) comprising a metal substrate (120a, 120b) having first and second sides and a porous region (124) providing fluid communication between the sides, planar cell chemistry layers (111, 112, 113) comprising fuel electrode, electrolyte, and air electrode layers being coated or deposited over, and supported by, the porous region (124) on the first side, wherein the metal substrates (120) are in a stacked arrangement with their cell chemistry layers (111, 112, 113) overlying each other such that either both their first sides, or, both their second sides face inwardly in a spaced, opposed relationship, the inwardly facing sides thereby defining a common first fluid volume (140) between them for one of fuel or oxidant.

A hydrogen electrode includes: a first layer; and a second layer located on the side of the electrolyte membrane relative to the first layer. The first layer is formed of a sintered body of a first metal and a first oxide. The second layer is formed of a sintered body of a second metal and a second oxide different from the first oxide. The first metal and the second metal each are a single metal of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu or an alloy of the element. The first oxide is zirconia stabilized with an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Sc, Ca, and Mg. The second oxide is ceria doped with an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sm, Gd, and Y.

A hydrogen electrode includes: a first layer; and a second layer located on the side of the electrolyte membrane relative to the first layer. The first layer is formed of a sintered body of a first metal and a first oxide. The second layer is formed of a sintered body of a second metal and a second oxide different from the first oxide. The first metal and the second metal each are a single metal of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu or an alloy of the element. The first oxide is zirconia stabilized with an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Sc, Ca, and Mg. The second oxide is ceria doped with an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sm, Gd, and Y.

A fuel cell structure includes; a cell stack in which a plurality of cells is stacked; a fastening mechanism configured to fasten the cell stack in a compressed state from both sides in a stacking direction of the plurality of cells; and a load receiving mechanism configured to receive a linear expansion load from the cell stack in a compression release direction. The linear expansion load is caused by a decrease in compressive load by the fastening mechanism when a temperature of the cell stack is raised.

An alloy member includes a base member that includes a plurality of recesses in a surface and is constituted by an alloy material containing chromium, a plurality of embedded portions that are respectively disposed in the plurality of recesses, and a coating layer that covers the base member and is connected to the plurality of embedded portions. An average value of actual lengths of line segments of the plurality of embedded portions is longer than an average value of straight lengths of straight lines of the plurality of embedded portions in a cross-section of the base member along a thickness direction of the base member. The average value of the actual lengths is 1.10 times or more the average value of the lengths of the straight lines.

An assembly includes a solid-oxide stack of the SOEC/SOFC type and a system for clamping the solid-oxide stack. This assembly also comprises one system for the coupling, gastight at high temperature, including a coupling flange to enable a gas inlet and/or outlet tube to pass, at least one clamping screw, provided with a clamping head, and a seal, positioned between said at least one of the top and bottom clamping plates and against the coupling flange.